- My Forums
- Tiger Rant
- LSU Recruiting
- SEC Rant
- Saints Talk
- Pelicans Talk
- More Sports Board
- Fantasy Sports
- Golf Board
- Soccer Board
- O-T Lounge
- Tech Board
- Home/Garden Board
- Outdoor Board
- Health/Fitness Board
- Movie/TV Board
- Book Board
- Music Board
- Political Talk
- Money Talk
- Fark Board
- Gaming Board
- Travel Board
- Food/Drink Board
- Ticket Exchange
- TD Help Board
Customize My Forums- View All Forums
- Show Left Links
- Topic Sort Options
- Trending Topics
- Recent Topics
- Active Topics
Started By
Message
re: Spoon > Modest Mouse
Posted on 12/18/14 at 11:45 am to 318_Guy
Posted on 12/18/14 at 11:45 am to 318_Guy
quote:
The pixies kind of did unless you are one of the idiots that think REM invented indie rock or even go as far as to say the velvet underground. That is all pretty subjective. It all starts in the 90s for me as far as defining what the genre has become today.
Well, if we want to be ahistorical, sure. But I will point out the Pixies broke after their last release in 1991, and their two best albums were both in the 80s. I love the Pixies, but they were definitely considered a second tier act at the time. We talked about this on another thread, but if you had a time machine and told people about the Pixies current influence and reputation, a person in 1990 would be absolutely shocked. But, let's be honest, that's because they influenced Nirvana so heavily. The Pixies massive influence is really a function of Nirvana's massive popularity.
But indie was born in the 80s, and it has its roots in the DIY punk scene of that era. It is such a bedrock of the genre, as sprawling as it is, that the 80s influence is sort of coded unthinkingly in to band's DNA. And see how many of the big indie labels of today have their genesis in the 80s: Merge, Matador, Sub Pop, 4AD, etc. (Tough & Go and Rough Trade both date back to the 70s).
You can argue Spoon and Modest Mouse are "genre defining" in the sense that they are massively popular. So sure, they are a good exemplar for the overall scene as they are most people's exposure to it. But that wasn't my objection. You argued they were "pioneering", and they are no such thing. They are the band that came after other bands' pioneering work (hey, good on them you can't control when you were born). But the whole idea of "indie rock" is just playing in a world primarily created by REM, Black Flag, and the SST bands.
I do think "indie" used to be a more meaningful term when the means of distribution of pop music were more tightly controlled. Post-internet, really anyone can put out anything and its cheap to record and distribute music to virtually any niche audience. That wasn't always so, hence the need for a indie, a virtual shadow music industry happily thriving in the shadows of the mainstream. Now, "indie" is just another part of the mainstream.
That's not a complaint, that's just an observation. Times change. But "our band can be your life" doesn't sound as radical as it did back when D Boon said it.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 11:47 am to Baloo
You talk good.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 11:52 am to Baloo
You give Black Flag too much credit.
Minor Threat and the Minutemen over Black Flag. All day. All day.
Minor Threat and the Minutemen over Black Flag. All day. All day.
Posted on 12/18/14 at 11:53 am to Baloo
quote:
you argues they are pioneering and they are no such thing
Its just my opinion. I was speaking more of genre defining mainstream success which is why i think these two bands are comparable. Look up the word pioneer and get back to me. Black Flag is punk garbage. Indie /=/ punk as much as you would like it to. I think Sonic Youth was more responsible for todays sound than the pixies in the 80s but thats just my opinion.
Popular
Back to top
Follow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News